Over time, who you’ve become colors your outlook on many things, including who you think you were when you were young. Our projected identity, who we imagine we are to others morphs as we grow older, and if all goes well, into a more honest assessment, one that acknowledges our warts as well as our–perceived–virtues. In a perfect world, we unburden ourselves of the very need to know, or care, what others think of us. In an unforgiving world, it is essential that we are continuously forgiving ourselves, and allow the judgment of others to remain in their possession alone.